Compressor for refrigerating machines



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COMPRESSOR FOR REFRIGERATING MACHINES I Filed June 6, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Carl P; Brae/r W0 BY 1 fimw W ,6 V M; Y5

ATTOR Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATE.

ATENT; orrrcr.

CARL P. BROCKWAY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH COR-PORATION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION DELAWARE COMPRESSOR FORREFRIGERATING MACHINES Application filed .Tune 6, 1924. Serial No.718,189.

This invention relates to improvements in pump mechanism relating torefrigerating machines, particularly such as are adapted for use inplants of small size.

One of the objects of the invention is the arrangement of thecompressor, condenser, oil separators, reducing valve, and automaticcooling water controller into a unit, whichis compact, and the differentparts of which are easily assembled and readily-accessible.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for sealingthe bearing in the "the casting there is formed a cylinder 11 of machinecasing, through which the power shaft extends, said means comprisingboth a liquid seal and a thrust bearing, the parts of which are held inclose contact by thereaction of a large spiral driven gear against asmall spiral driving gear.

A further object is the provision of means for transferring oilcollected in the high pressure side of the apparatus to the low pressureside without permitting leakage of gas.

Still another object is the provision of an oil separator in the pistonof the compressor pump, the parts being so arranged that the oil thuscollected will return by gravity to the bottom of the casing.

Other objects, and objects relating to de-- tails of construction andeconomies of manufacture, will appear as I proceed with the descriptionof that embodiment of the invention, which, for the purposes of thepresent application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1" is a vertical sectional view through a machine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the rotating element ofmy oil transferring de-- vice.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of an oil separator employed in my invention.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line44, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the complete machine.

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section taken online 7-7, Fig. 6 showing anoil gauge.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8, Fig. 4,and

Fig. 9 is a detail View on a large scale showing in section the pistoncheck valve and the oil separator located in the piston.

Similar reference characters refer to like I parts throughout the views.

In the drawings, 10 represents a casting which constitutes the principalpart of the casing of the machine. In the upper part of the compressorpump. A piston 12 slides within the cylinder, being pivoted to aconnecting rod 13, which is journalled at its lower end upon a crank pin14 integral with a plate 15, which is bolted to a fly-wheel 16, On theside of the latter, opposite the plate 15, is a concentric projection 17rotatably mounted in a bearing in the casting 10. The crank pin 14 isintegral with a crank 18 and a short shaft 19 ournalled in a plate 20which is secured to the casting by means of bolts, a packing ring 21serving to seal the joint. The chamber enclosed between the casting 10and the plate 20 will be referred to hereinafter as the low pressurechamber.

The piston 12 above the piston pin has a spider 22 with a centralcylindrical extension 23, in which slides the stem 24 of a check valve25. A nut 26 is threaded upon the lower end of valve stem 24 to limitthe movement of thevalve. Around the cylindrical extension 23 is mountedan oil separator consisting of a series of alternatively large and smallconical plates 27 and 28 respectively, the large plates having openingstherethrough near the center so that the gases in passing through theseparator are forced to take a tortuous path. The oil particlescollected upon the plate run down the latter and pass off their loweredges, whence they return into the low pressure chamber.

The upper end of the cylinder 11 of the compressor pump is outwardlyflanged and supports a block 29, the upper part of which is cored outcentrally to receive a spring metal ring 30, constituting a check valve.The ring 30 closes normally one or more bypair of overlapping bodymembers 41 and' passes 31, which communicate with the upper end of thecylinder 11. Superposed upon the block 29 is a dome 32, from the top ofwhich extends the condenser pipe 33. In the joints between the cylinder11, block 29, and dome 32 are packing rings 34. The coil of condenserpipe 33 is enclosed by a dome shaped cover 35 which is held tightly tothe flat top of casting 10 by screws 36.

. The lower end of pipe 33 is in communication through a...hole 37 witha high pressure chamber 38, which is formed by a continuation 39 of thecasting 10. Within the cham ber 38 is an oil separator having a seriesof inclined deflecting plates 40 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Theseplates are mounted in a 42, having attaching tabs 43, by which theseparator is supported. The plates 40 are held in position by means oftabs 44 integral with the plates, which extend through slots in the bodymember, and are then bent down against the latter.

A portion of a top of the chamber 38 is closed by a casting 45, in whichis formed the seat of the reducing valve 46. The valve itself has adownwardly extending stem 47 and an upwardly extending stem 48. On thestem 47 is a collar'49, against which bears a coil spring 50 tending tohold the valve seated. The top of the stem 48 bears against and supportsa slidable solid cylinder 9 integral with a disk 51, upon which rests adiaphragm 52 that is resiliently pressed down by a relatively large coilspring 53, the compression of which may be regulated by means of anadjusting screw 54 mounted in the top of a dome shaped cover 55 fastenedby screws to the top of casting 45. It will be observed that the valveseat is in communication with the high pressure chamber 38, and with apassage 56 on the other side, to which passage is connected the pipe 57leading to the refrigerating coil, not shown. A small opening 58connects the low pressure passage 56 with a chamber 59, across the topof which the diaphragm 52 is mounted. Below the valve seat and aroundthe collar 49 and spring 50 is a wire screen 60, shaped like an invertedfrustum of a cone, which is placed here for the purpose of collectingoil particles from the gas passing therethrough.

The gas returning to the machine from the refrigerating coil is admittedto the low pres sure chamber through a pipe 61.

The'fly-wheel 16 has spiral gear teeth upon its periphery, with whichmesh the teethof a relatively small spiral gear 62 fastened by means ofa pin 63 to a power shaft 64, which extends into the casing through oneside wall. The opening between the shaft and wall is sealed as well assuch means will permit by a packing gland 65. In order to prevent anypossibility of leakage of the gas however, I employ additional meansinsure a tight joint, comprising a liquid seal and a solid thrusthearing. The radial bearing consists of a casting 66 of any suitablematerial, secured tightly to the casing wall by means of screw bolts67.In'the casting is formed an oil receptacle 68 adapted to contain oil'toa level well above the top of theshaft 64. In order to insure a fullcharge of oil in the receptacle 68 at all times, I provide a pan 69 (seeFigs. 4 and 8) which is so arranged as to catch oil thrown by thefly-wheel 16 and deflect it sidewise into thereceptacle 68'. In

' order to hold the oil in the fly-wheel teeth imthe invention. A collar70 with a c0mplementary conical ground surface is so mounted upon theshaft 64 as to be substantially integral therewith. When pressure is applied to the shaft in the direction of the broken arrow, Fig. 6, the twoparts of the thrust bearing are forced into close engagement and preventthe passage of any gas, which by any chance might have leaked past theoil seal or through the joint between the casing andthe casting66. Whilethe plant is in operation, longitudinal pressure inthe direction of thebroken arrow is transmitted to the shaft 64 by reason of the reaction ofthe teeth on the fly-wheel against the teeth on the pinion 62, it beingobserved that the weight of the fly-wheel is greatly in excess of theweight of the pinion.

It is important that the oil collected in the high pressure chamber 38be returned to the low pressure chamber where it is needed forlubricating purposes. The means which I have provided for accomplishingthis function constitute an important part of my invention. The ductbetween the two chambers is indicated at 88. This duct is closed duringthe greater part of the time by a rotating element 89, which has a shortshaft 90 j ournalled in and extending through the wall between the twochambers with a driving pinv 91 joined to the shaft 17 of the flywheelin such a manner as to provide a slidable, but nonrotatable connection.For this purpose it is convenient to flatten one side of the pin 91 andto provide asimilarly shaped socket in the shaft 17; The rotatingelement has an oil pocket 92 in its face so positioned radially as toregister-With the mouth of the duct 88 and also with an opening 93 (seeFig. 2) in the wall between the two chambers, which opening is inconstant communication with the high pressure chamber. lVhen the machineis in operation, the high pressure in chamber38 acts upon the rearsurface of the well be employed without departing from the spirit of theinvention. A spring pressure plunger 94 bearing against a bar 95 uponthe water valve casing assists in holding the rotating element 89 inplace.

The machine may be charged with lubricating oil through a duct 71 whichis normally closed by a screw-threaded needle valve 72. A supply of oilmay be carried in an oil cup 7 3 which is in communication with the duct71 when the needle valve 72 is retracted. The

amount of oil in the bottom of the low pressure chamber may beascertained by inspection of a gauge 74, Fig. 7, which is threaded intoan opening 75 in the base of the casing.

A cooling fluid, such as water, enters the machine under pressurethrough a pipe 76, passes thence through an automatic regulating valveand through pipe 7 7 into the base of the condensing chamber. Thecooling fluid is drawn off through a drain pipe 7 8 extending upwardlyto near the top of the condensing chamber. While the water regulatingvalve forms no part of the present invention, it will be brieflydescribed.

Water enters the valve chamber by way of a passage 79 and leaves by wayof a passage 80. The seat for the valve 81 lies between and is incommunication with both of these passages. The valve has a double endedstem,

one portion of which is arranged to receive longitudinal pressure from aplunger 82 acted upon by a spring 83, the compression of which may beadj usted by means of a nut 84. The opposite end 85 of the valve stemabuts upon a disk 86 bearing against the diaphragmv 87. As will bereadily understood the diaphragm 87, which is exposed to the pressure inthe high pressure chamber 38 will press upon disk 86 againstthe pressureof spring 83 with a degree of intensity varying with the degree ofcompression of the gases in the chamber 38. Hence the valve 81 will beentirely closed oropened to a greater or less extent depending upon thecondition of operation of the machine.

the up stroke valve 25 c loses'and the charge of gas is compressed untilit overcomes the pressure in the dome 32 acting upon the inside of ringcheck valve 30, when the latter flexes sufliciently to permit thecompressed charge to enter the dome. In this manner pressure is built upin the dome, in the pipe 33 and in the high pressurechamber 38. Inpassing through the pipe 33 the gas gives off some of its heat to thewater surrounding the pipe. From the chamber 38 it passes throughreducing valve 46 and out through pipe 57 to the refrigerating chamber.The difference in compression between'the high pressure side and the lowpressure side of the apparatus may be regulated by adjustment of thescrew cloud of oil spray is maintained in the low pressure chambercontinuously because of the churning of the oilat the bottom of.

the chamber by the fly-wheeland the lower end of the connecting rod. Bythis means the piston and cylinder wall are satisfactorily lubricated.The removal of this oil from the gas being compressed is accomplished inthe first instance by the separator in the piston. Further oil isremoved by the large separator in the high pressure chamber 38, whilethe final separation is made by the screen 60 surrounding the reducingvalve.

' The oil which is taken from the gas by the two separatorslastmentioned collects in the bottom of the chamber 38 and when itreaches the level of the opening 93 it fills that opening. Thereafter,at each revolution of the rotary element 89 a charge ofoil is forcedfrom the opening 93 into pocket 92, from which it is discharged into theduct 80 when the pocket comes into registration therewith. The slidingsurfaces between the rotating element 89 and the wall betweenthechambers must be so accurately ground as to prevent any substantialleakage of gas from the high to the low pressure chamber.

I am aware that the particular embodiment of my invention abovedescribed, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawing is therefore I desire to claimmy invention broadly as well as specifically as indicated by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerating machine, a casing, a compressor therein, arelatively large spiral gear within said casing, a driving connectionbetween said gear and compressor, a power shaft extending through onewall of said casing, a relatively small spiral gear fixed to said shaftmeshing with said first named gear, and a solid thrust bearing betweensaid shaft and wall, whereby the reaction of the teeth on the large gearagainst the'teeth on the small gear holds the parts of said thrustbearingin close engagement to form a seal in the wall about said shaftwhile the compressor is being operated. 2. In a refrigerating machine, acasing, a compressor therein comprising a fly-Wheel, spiral teeth uponthe periphery of said fly- Wheel, a power shaft extending through onewall of said casing, a spiral gear fixed to said shaft meshing with thefly-wheel gear, and a solid conical thrust bearing between said shaftand wall, whereby the reaction of the teeth on the fly-wheel gearagainst the teeth on the power shaft gear holds the parts of said trustbearing in close engagement to form a seal in the wall about said shaft,while the compressoris being operated.

3. In a refrigerating machine, a casing containing oil, a compressor inthe casing, a relatively large spiral gear dipping into the oil, adriving connection between said gear and compressor, a power shaftextending through one wall of said casing, a relatively small spiralgear fixed to said shaft meshing with said first named gear, a solidthrust bearing between said shaftand wall, whereby the reaction of theteethon the large gear against the teeth on the small gear holds theparts of said thrust bearing in close engagement, and a radial bearingsupported from said wall extending inwardly from said thrust bearing,said radial bearing including an oil receptacle adapted to contain oilto a level above the shaft, and a pan arranged to collect oil thrownfrom said large gear and deflect it into said receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

CARL P. BROCKWAY.

